Steering-gear for automobiles.



G. LANING.

STEERING GEAR FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, 1909.

953 698 Patented M3125, 1910.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR MM 4 g ATTORNEY GEORGE LANING, OF LA SALLE,ILLINOIS.

STEERING-GEAR FOB AUTOMOBILES.

ceases.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 19, 1909.

Patented Apr. 5, 19in Serial no. 508,522.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonen LANlNG, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of La Salle, county of Lasalle, and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSteering-Gear for Automobiles, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements in methods for steering powerdriven vehicles, and the object of my improvements is to produce asteering gear by means of inclined planes, which is very simple,inexpensive and extremely effective in operation. 1 attain these objectsby the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in WhichFigure l is a top view of my invention, with some of the ordinarilyconcealed parts shown in section. Fig. 2 is a front view of myinvention. Fig. 3 is a side view of my invention showing the tiller.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout several views.

In the drawings, 1 represents the left sidebar of the frame of anautomobile, 2 the right sidebar, 3 and l the cross bars eonneeting withthe above mentioned side bars, 5 is the front cross bar which connectsthe front end of sidebars l and 2 and to which the stub axles 8 and 9,on which are journaled the front wheels, (3 and '7, are pivotallyconnected by means of the cylindrical parts 10 of said stub axles whichare journaled in the projecting pieces 11 fastened to said front crossbar 5.

Immediately above the bearings in the upper pieces 11 on each of thestub axles are fastened the levers 12 and 13. The ends of these leversare pivotally connected to the ends of a pair of parallel links 14L bymeans of pins 15 and 16 one link being spaced above the other, one onthe upper side of the levers and one on the lower side of same. It isevident that the links 14 thus connect the stub axles 8 and 9 togetherso that any motion of links i l to the right or left is immediatelytransmitted to the wheels 6 and 7 which thus changes the direction ofthe vehicle, if same is in motion.

Journaled on pins 17 and 18 whose ends are fastened in the links 14!:are the rollers 19 and 20 respectively. Slidably mounted in guides 21and 22 on side bar 1 and 23 and on side bar 2 are the blocks 25 and 26having the inclined planes 2? and 28 re spectively formed thereon. Theseinclined planes are continually in engagement with said rolls 19 and 20respectively. Journaled on a pin fastened in cross bar t is an equalizerbar 30 which is pivotally connected to these wedges and 26 having theinclined planes 27 and 28 by means of links 31 and and the pins 88 and3e and and 36 respectively as shown in Fig. 1.

Pivotally connected to the one end of equalizer bar 30 and to the end ofa lever 38 is a link 87. Lever 38 is fastened to an up right member 39which is journaled in cross bar 3 and a bearing standard fastened to 3;member 39 has formed on its upper portion a U-shaped head 40 into whichfits one end of the tiller or handle a]. which is pivotally connectedtherewith by means of a pin e2 in such a manner that tiller d1 can beelevated out of the way of the driver as shown in the dotted lines inFig. 3 when he desires to get in or out of the automobile.

It is evident from the manner of connecting the inclined planes orwedges with the tiller through the linkages shown that any motion givento the tiller ell is immediately communicated to the wedges which movein opposite directions to each other, and as either inclined plane ismoved forward it engages the roll journaled in the links lat abovementioned and causes the wheels of the automobile to be turned, whilethe other roll journaled in said links 1 f follows the correspondinginclined plane as it moves backward or in the opposite direction to theinclined plane which is moved forward; thus forming at all times a lockso that if either wheel strikes an obstruction of any kind the wheelmust simply pass over it without t 'ansmitting the shock to the tilleror causing the wheels to turn at another angle and change the directionof motion of the vehicle. By keeping these wedges or inclined planesclose up to the rollers above mentioned, all backlash which is so commonand annoying in all other steering devices will be avoided.

It will be understood of course, that while I have here shown one formof my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the exact constructionshown, but wish to have it taken in a sense diagrammatic of all suchconstructions as come Within the scope of my claims.

I claim:

1. A steering gear for automobiles comprising a pair of inclined planesslidably mounted on its frame, a pair of stub axles pivotally mounted onsaid frame, a link pivotally connected to levers fastened to said stubaxles, rolls journaled on said link co-acting with said inclined planes,and means for simultaneously moving said planes in opposite directions2. A steering gear for automobiles comprising a pair of stub axlespivotally mounted on the frame, a lever fastened to each of said stubaxles, a link pivotally connecting the ends of said levers, a pair ofrolls journaled on pins fastened to said link, a pair of inclined planesslidably mounted on said frame engaging said rolls, and

means for simultaneously moving said planes in opposite directions,substantially as shown and described.

3. A steering gear for automobiles comprising a frame, a pair of stubaxles pivotally mounted on'the frame, a lever fastened to each of saidstub axles, a link pivotally connecting the ends of said levers, a pairof rolls joiu'naled on pins fastened to said link, a pair of inclinedplanes slidably mounted on said frame engaging said rolls, a tiller, anequalizer bar pivotallv connected to the frame and to each of saidplanes, and operat-ively connected with the tiller, substantiallv asshown and described.

GEORGE LAX EKG.

Witnesses V. H. Mox'roonnnr, Gnonon V. Pirnn, J11.

